Powassan Virus Infections: A Systematic Review of Published Cases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Powassan virus is an emerging neurotropic arbovirus transmitted by the tick Ixodes scapularis. This systematic review was conducted to aggregate data on its clinical manifestations, diagnostic findings, and complications.

Methods

PubMed was searched until August 2023 using the term "Powassan", to identify all published cases of Powassan virus infections, as per PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Among the 380 abstracts identified, 45 studies describing 84 cases (70 adult, 14 pediatric) were included. Cases were reported from the USA and Canada. Complications included paralysis in 44.1% of adult and 42.6% of pediatric cases, cognitive deficits in 33.3% of adult and 25% of pediatric cases, while the mortality rate was 19.1% and 7.1% in the adult and pediatric

SUBMITTER: Kakoullis L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10747444 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature